How often do you catch a big bass?

[CTBassin860]

I like to target the big girls. I'd personally rather catch one 4# fish than four 1# fish. A 2.5# bass is a quality fish in my book though. They can't all be bigguns.

[Milos]

Thanks for the tips, I did also notice that my lures were getting a lot of weeds on them and I was spending quite some time getting it off the hooks almost every cast.

 

I hear there are weedless baits out there, what are your thoughts on those and do they really work? 

[Bucky205]

How often depends on two things.  Location and location. The location of the reservoir, then the location of the larger fish within that reservoir.  What is average on one reservoir may be a trophy on another.  Alabama is blessed with some great fishing, but even within the state there are large differences in quantity and quality of the bass.  Alabama DCNR has a group called B.A.I.T. (Bass Anglers Information Team) that looks at all the data and compiles it annually for the different bodies of water within the state.  http://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/default/files/bait2015.pdf  It's interesting to see the major differences on size within a relatively small area. On Guntersville this spring Casey Martin put 5 fish in the boat that weighed 40-11, at a lot of other lakes in the state that would be close to impossible.

 

 

 

[NiX]

I fish Folsom Lake in California and it's a true finesse fishery... I fish from the bank and catch 1-2lbers frequently but lately I found a new spot and have been catching 2-3lbers.  I never got a weight on my biggest fish just got length at 26". After that I got a scale and new PB is 5 lbs. I caught that this year

[CroakHunter]

8 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Yep, we don't exactly live in the best state for bass fishing.  My bar for big bass is also at four pounds (around here), and a 6.5 is definitely well into the trophy category.  I fish more than anyone else I know, and I've only caught a few bass over six pounds.  

 

Going up to Michigan every year reminds me of just how bad the bass fishing is in Indiana, a fifteen to twenty pound bag is easier than a 7 pound bag around here, at least on the terrible lakes my club fishes lol.  And even with only about 25 hours on the water last time I was up there, I still caught one bass that weighed a hair over six even.

I'm lucky enough to fish some private strip mine lakes. Spoiled rotten lol

[Catt]

It aint your line, rod, reel, or lures!

 

It location.

 

Y'all can change all the tackle ya want but it ain't gonna change the results!

 

Failing to understand what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

Failing to understand what the predominate prey species in your lake and how that species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

Failing to understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

Failing to understand that to consistently catch bass is a process of elimination and duplication. Eliminate patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicate patterns and waters that are productive.

 

[GeeseMelvin]

9 hours ago, Milos said:

Thanks for the tips, I did also notice that my lures were getting a lot of weeds on them and I was spending quite some time getting it off the hooks almost every cast.

 

I hear there are weedless baits out there, what are your thoughts on those and do they really work? 

Yes there are plenty of seedless baits. Everything Texas rigged is weedless. The methods WRB suggested to you, the Texas rigged worm and Texas rigged senko are weedless. My advice, would be to try those two things and to learn how to rig a drop shot with a Zoom finesse worm. If you've never caught a bass on a plastic worm it may take you a little more time to identify a fish since with a crankbait or rooster tail they just nail it mid reel. Just keep learning. Read a lot. Watch videos of how to Texas rig. Get a hook and a worm and do it along with the vid. Also, as @WRB mentioned, your gonna want a better rod. Once you've got a rod with some more backbone you'll be able to effectively throw a wider range of lures that will definitely increase your chances in ore fish fish definitely more big fish. 

[WRB]

12 hours ago, Milos said:

Thanks for the tips, I did also notice that my lures were getting a lot of weeds on them and I was spending quite some time getting it off the hooks almost every cast.

 

I hear there are weedless baits out there, what are your thoughts on those and do they really work? 

You didn't read my long post on how to fish a weedless worm or Senko, so can't help you any further until you take a few minutes and watch Glenn's instructional video's how to rig Texas rig plastic worm. Video's are located at the top of the forum.

Everyone has responded to the title of your thread, not recognizing you are a novice angler asking the wrong question, should be "How do you catch bass?"

Tom

 

[GeeseMelvin]

8 minutes ago, WRB said:

You didn't read my long post on how to fish a weedless worm or Senko, so can't help you any further until you take a few minutes and watch Glenn's instructional vedio's how to a Texas rig plastic worm.

Everyone has responded to the title of your thread, not recognizing you are a novice angler asking the wrong question, should be "How do you catch bass?"

Tom

 

 

Yeup, reason why I tagged you in my post. Your posts have thoroughly answered his  real question regarding the gear he has and regarding his fishing situation. @Milos refer back to his posts and don't go forth until you understand all the terminology of his posts. You gotta start back at square one and take the time to learn a lot if you ever wanna be a good bass angler. 

[Catt]

Ya can buy all the tackle ya want but until ya understand "where" you'll only be practicing casting!

 

My grandson caught those Zebco's 33 Authentic Platinum, proof it ain't tackle!

 

What happened? The icon for attachments disappeared!

[sully420]

14 hours ago, Milos said:

Thanks for the tips, I did also notice that my lures were getting a lot of weeds on them and I was spending quite some time getting it off the hooks almost every cast.

 

I hear there are weedless baits out there, what are your thoughts on those and do they really work? 

The position you're in right now dictates that you spend a lot of time studying bassresourcecom and YouTube to learn some basic information on what rigs to use what bait and what equipment. Catching big fish is something that you're just not prepared to do yet there's a certain amount of studying and learning that you're going to have to do to put yourself in position to get big bites and you're in the right place to do that. You need to get yourself some experience and some understanding so that you know the right questions to ask. As far as catching big fish goes in my humble opinion you need to have yourself in the mindset to catch big fish. Yes you can go out there and drop shot and get a big basd but so many people get caught up with catching numbers that they will not sacrifice those numbers to Target big fish. In my neck of the woods I find so many people that go straight to finesse fishing even when it's not necessary.

[WRB]

38 minutes ago, Catt said:

Ya can buy all the tackle ya want but until ya understand "where" you'll only be practicing casting!

 

My grandson caught those Zebco's 33 Authentic Platinum, proof it ain't tackle!

 

What happened? The icon for attachments disappeared!

The Zebco is a lot better rod/reel combo then the OP is using and you are teaching your grandson where and how to fish. The OP doesn't have a clue where or how to catch bass and needs to start with the basics, like don't cast a treble hook lure into a weed bed, instead use a weedless rigged soft plastic. I fully agree "where" is essential.

Tom

[Catt]

The first step in catching bigger bass or any bass for that matter is location!

 

For some reason the first thing out of most people's mouth is ya got the wrong rod, ya got the wrong reel, ya got the wrong line, ya using the wrong lure!

 

Does the OP wanna catch or just fish?

 

He can practice casting in the back yard

[WRB]

Catt to prove your point my 1st trip to lake Guerreo MX we watch kids fishing form shore using a beer can with line wrapped around it and cast like a spinning reel and caught bass during my time watching them. Those kids knew how and where to fish to catch dinner.

Contary the OP doesn't know how to fish for bass and needs all the help we can give him.

Tom

[Catt]

OK we talking extremes

 

You go out in KVD's tournament winning Nitro with all his tackle & you will still get skunked!

[soflabasser]

On 7/28/2017 at 1:46 PM, Milos said:

I'm fishing in Illinois, the things I use is a crank bait, and a rooster tail. Only 1 lake I fish will have a couple fisherman, and the majority of the time either one catches a good size bass or nothing at all. There is walleye located around the middle of the lake, and I think I remember there is this guy that casts his rod way out there with a minnow and catches it.

 

Crank baits are excellent lures for both smallmouth and largemouth bass so you are fishing with a good lure. Have you tried fishing the Fox river? Its a amazing fishery.

[pondbassin101]

10 hours ago, sully420 said:

The position you're in right now dictates that you spend a lot of time studying bassresourcecom and YouTube to learn some basic information on what rigs to use what bait and what equipment.

X2 

 

When I first started bass fishing about 2 years ago I probably spent more time on BR and YouTube doing research then fishing for some time. Reading up will result in a much smaller learning curve, a 5 minute video on Texas rigging will save you half an hour of frustration on the water. Yes, some things come with time and experience, but for now, research research research. Trust me it helps

[scaleface]

I hate to say it but you have a pretty poor rod and reel but you will have to make due with it . Your also fishing weeds so you need a good weedless bait .Get some thin wire 1.0 offset worm hooks    not the extra wide  gap hooks  .   Then get some soft , thin 4  or 6 inch plastic worms . 6 inch worms could always be bitten off to make them smaller .Pick up some 1/8th  bullet sinkers then watch the videos about Texas rigs on this site  . The Lucke Strike Twirl Tail worms at Wal Mart will work . I use them .  

 

You will need the small worms and hooks to get penetration  with your gear. I like to run the hook all the way through the worm then pull it back in  That gives the hook a channel to go through . That will get you some bites  if you throw it in the right spots . You might  miss a few especially at first so thats why you should  watch the how-to videos .

 

 

[WRB]

18 hours ago, Catt said:

OK we talking extremes

 

You go out in KVD's tournament winning Nitro with all his tackle & you will still get skunked!

You or I wouldn't get skunked, Milos would.

Tom

[Catt]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

You or I wouldn't get skunked, Milos would.

Tom

 

Tom ya make it to easy

 

You & I would not get skunked...Why?

 

Because we know where to fish!

 

Milos even with all KVD's tackle would get skunked...Why?

 

He does not know where to use all this tackle!

 

Zebico 33 or Shimano Antares doesn't matter if you're where the fish are!

[WRB]

3 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Tom ya make it to easy

 

You & I would not get skunked...Why?

 

Because we know where to fish!

 

Milos even with all KVD's tackle would get skunked...Why?

 

He does not know where to use all this tackle!

 

Zebico 33 or Shimano Antares doesn't matter if you're where the fish are!

OK, teach Milos where and how to catch bass using his telescoping spinning outfit he posted. I have done my part.

Tom

[Catt]

OK!

 

@Milos where ya live, what bodies of water ya fishing?

[Milos]

I live in Illinois, Homewood to be exact. I fish at lakes with lots of weeds, open creeks, ponds. I've never been near a river before.

[soflabasser]

 @Milos  I highly recommend you give river/creek fishing a try, its definitely worth it. Right know the water is high in the Fox river/ surrounding rivers so it might be a little more difficult , but sooner or later the water level will drop. Good lures to use in rivers/creeks are shallow running crankbaits, small swimbaits, 1/4 ounce spinnerbaits, inline spinners,jerkbaits, crawfish imitation soft plastics, texas rigged soft plastics, and topwaters. Fishing around the dams on the river can be very productive, so consider fishing these areas as well. Try to find a experienced fisherman who is willing to teach you in person, it will greatly speed up your learning curve. Most importantly, put in your time on the water and don't be discouraged if you don't catch fish on your fishing trips, it happens to the best of us. 

[Bucky205]

A better question might be. How often do you get skunked?  Most do, some less than others.  I try to learn from it and move on.  It is almost an exercise in what not to do.  Even on a fishing trip where you caught absolutely nothing, you gained knowledge.  Over time the should do, outweighs the what not to do.  After 40+ years I still get skunked, but I learn from it.